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Wapsie Valley's Marty McKowen named 2019-20 All-Iowa boys' basketball coach of the year

When he took the Wapsie Valley boys' basketball head coaching position nearly four decades ago, Marty McKowen admits he viewed it as a five-year job. He'd use it as a springboard to bigger and better things, he thought.

But he fell in love. And he never left.

He kept winning at Wapsie Valley. Up to 200 career wins, then 300 and 400 and 500.

And then came the sweetest victory of them all: No. 596, when his Warriors upset No. 2 Bishop Garrigan 65-53 to win the Class 1A state title earlier this month.

For leading Wapsie Valley, which was the No. 8 seed in the 1A field, to an improbable championship, McKowen has been named the Register's 2019-20 All-Iowa boys' basketball coach of the year.

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Wapsie Valley coach Marty McKowen wipes away a tear as the final seconds tick down and the Warriors celebrate their 65-53 win over Bishop Garrigan during the 1A state boys basketball championship game at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday, March 13, 2020, in Des Moines.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

"You heard the crowd chant, 'We are family,'" McKowen said after upsetting Bishop Garrigan. "We used to say, 'We are Wapsie,' and our kids, they sat down and wanted it to be, 'We are family,' and it was."

Wapsie Valley enjoyed a Cinderella story to get the 1A title. But its run to even get to the state tournament was just as magical.

The Warriors were the No. 4 seed in their district regional and upset their way to a berth at Wells Fargo Arena. They entered state with an 18-7 record and the No. 8 seed, and most assumed they'd be a first-round fodder for No. 1 Lake Mills.

"The kids believed in each other, and that’s the biggest thing," McKowen said. "You watch them on the bench, and it didn’t matter who’s shooting the ball, they’re all up yelling and screaming and excited for them."

Senior forward Kiks Rosengarten led the way with 21 points and 15 rebounds in the state title-winning effort.

"He’s coached some really good teams," Rosengarten said of McKowen, "and I’m just really … honored to be a part of his legacy as a coach and finally getting that state title for him."

Matthew Bain covers recruiting, Iowa/Iowa State athletics and Drake basketball for the Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Network. Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.